Mjolnir

Camp Athens

^{#0a6d6b ....|..... outfit .....|..... outside main hall}

Sylas proved to be less in a hurry to go into the Main Hall when he saw several new campers flood in through the entrance. Andy mentioned some newcomers, but he wasn’t expecting such volume. It felt like ages since Sloane and himself arrived at the beginning of the year. He could hardly remember how many joined camp alongside them. But this was a lot. It easily doubled their numbers. The prospect of twice as many campers was both intriguing and intimidating, although he’d never admit that outloud. He didn’t suspect any of them would be trying to cause problems two seconds through the gates, nor were the seasoned demigods a united front, so it wasn’t like it was a new versus old scenario. However, whatever drama did ensue would undoubtedly end in chaos. That sounded fun.

A pat on his shoulder drew Sylas’s attention away from the crowd. He returned the greeting with a head nod. "Looking good," he added with a tap to Mason’s back as he headed into the Main Hall. It was nothing sexual or anything like that, but an acknowledgement of the son of Hades looking to be back to form after the extensive wounds he suffered during the box. They both had been resigned to bed rest for a majority of the past couple months. Seeing Mason out and about once again, he needed to take the time to catch up… Especially now that Liv was gone. That put a damper in their plans.

A whistle rang out in the openness at the center of camp. Sylas looked over to see Andy beckoning all the new arrivals toward her as she started giving her ‘welcome to camp’ speech. He scoffed and rolled his eyes. Where was his welcome orientation? He recalled arriving and having to just… Figure shit out, on his own. They were all adults, weren’t they? Oh, fancy little maps and a display of magic. Mason’s girlfriend sure seemed to have a flair for the dramatics. Kissing ass wasn’t going to keep her from getting fried with lightning. It didn’t work the first time.

He had his fill of people watching. It was quickly becoming boring and not very fruitful. Sylas figured the party later that night would be a better locale to get a stronger impression of the flesh meat. There was no rush, afterall. The best laid plans take time, and patience.

Sylas slid his hands into his pocket and ascended a single stair when a sweet, silky voice rang out behind him. "Oh, excuse me!" He spun around faster than he would have if anyone else had been calling out to him. It was like the woman’s voice had a magnetic tether that pulled him in closer. If you would have asked Sylas two seconds ago who the most beautiful person at camp was, it would have been Evelyn, without hesitation. But the blonde before him gave him pause. He had never seen a woman like her. Pin pricks tingled up the back of his neck, alerting his brain and snapping him out of it. He blinked, trying to clear the fogginess from his head. Fucking Aphrodite spawns.

He cleared his throat and pointed to himself, double checking that it was him that she was speaking to. "I am so sorry to trouble you, but it seems I didn't get the memo about how much to bring and, well, decided to take home with me. I don't suppose I could trouble you to help me? Oh, and where are my manners? I'm Chariselle, a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Sylas reached out and took Chariselle’s hand in his, then leaned down to place a tender kiss atop it. "A beauty such as yours must come from Aphrodite. The pleasure is all mine." He stood back up straight with a debonair smile. "I am Sylas, and luckily for me, my mother is not Aphrodite." He quirked a brow and held up his index finger, silently gesturing to give him a moment.

Ok, so he wasn’t thrilled about the idea of toting a lot of, what looked like, very heavy luggage across camp through the snow. But he was a gentleman, at least to pretty women anyway. Also, if he was going to be packmuling around camp, he’d like Chariselle to have a map so maybe they didn’t take any unnecessary routes. He reached the map stand and had just pinched one of the pamphlets between his fingers when—Thwack! He looked over to the activities field and saw what looked like the tail end of Sloane pelting some guy square in the face with a snowball. Sylas spit out a chuckle. His free hand snapped to his face, pretending to rub his nose or mouth to stifle the laugh. Perhaps he didn’t need to muddle in his sister’s affairs as much as he thought. It looked like she was doing well enough at ruining her own chances at friends.

Then again… Sloane started basically fawning over the guy to make sure she didn’t hurt him. Like a snowball could actually do any damage. It wasn’t surprising that she was embarrassed and begging for forgiveness, presumably.Iit’s not like he could hear their conversation. He was more intrigued that the guy, not only, stuck around, but also started walking with her. Odd. He’d have to dive into that further at a different time.

Back to his current task, Sylas returned to Chariselle with a charming smile and map in hand. He held out the pamphlet toward the blonde. "This is for you." His other hand reached up and hooked his fingers around the strap of her purse. "Let me get that for you," he whispered. He then gently, and slowly, slid the bag down her arm while holding her gaze intently. "Now all you have to worry about is picking a cabin and pointing me in the right direction."

Sylas didn’t hesitate to slip his arm through the strap and rest the purse on his shoulder. He double checked that all of her luggage was secure, including the small bags on the larger rolling ones. He tightened some straps and checked a couple buckles. When ready, he grabbed both handles and nodded for Chariselle to lead the way. "Right will take us around the field and toward the beach and waterfront cabins. Whereas, left will take us behind the arena toward the woods and more secluded cabins… And, coincidentally, my cabin." He looked over his shoulder toward her with an enigmatic smirk. "Any preferences?"

^{interactions ....|.... chariselle ............... mentions ....|.... mason, andy, evelyn, sloane & ace ............... collabs ....|.... none}

Camp Athens

^{#c9bef3 ....|..... outfit .....|..... lochlan's cabin}

By the time Lochlan made his way downstairs, Blair had already been through half of his kitchen looking for a snack of some kind. It really was a bachelor pad. She couldn’t find a single piece of food beyond protein bars and an old sandwich in the fridge. "So are you gonna try to make your affairs secret this time or is the whole of camp going to hear about it again?"

Blair’s head popped out from behind a cabinet door with a mischievous grin. She stuck out her bottom lip and shrugged before closing the door. "I haven’t decided yet." She spun around with a little extra flourish and made her way over to him. "Advertising my prowess isn’t necessarily a bad thing." She flashed her brother a cheesy grin then did a half skip out the door when he opened it. "I’m really providing a community service here. Camp is so depressing, and what makes guys more happy than a naked girl and an orgasm?" She cocked her head to the side and wagged her index finger. "I should get an award."

The pair walked in stride with each other, as they often did through life. Blair and Lochlan have always been a dynamic duo since they were young, causing trouble wherever they went. Camp was no different. Although they found it wasn’t as easy to cause mischief when they were surrounded by a bunch of powerful and potentially deadly demigods. It didn’t have the same je ne sais quoi as it did fucking with peasants. It probably was easier for her brother with his whole ’do what I tell you to do because magic’ bullshit he had. Blair on the hand… Well, she had a nice rack at least. Her other abilities haven’t been much help, unless you count the cannibal horses from the box. But, we don’t talk about that.

"I’m still hanging out to see Aphrodite herself. Can you imagine? If those kids of hers can turn heads and have an allure about them, she must be mind blowing."

Blair snorted and rolled her eyes. "From a daughter of Eris to the Goddess of Love herself? That’s a hell of a rebound. But you might need to set your sights a little lower." She motioned her hands while talking, doing that whole Ross quiet down gesture. "Maybe start with one of her children. I think there was a daughter lingering somewhere around camp, could be more now. Orrrrrr, there’s Wes. He’s taken, but hot. You know, if you’re wanting some hotdog action rather than a taco," she teased and bumped his shoulder with her own.

It wasn’t long after they left Lochlan’s cabin that they already stumbled upon some campers. Unfortunately, Sloane was one of said campers. She was walking alongside some guy that Blair had definitely not seen before, so he had to be new. It wasn’t much of a secret the little daughter of Eris had a thing for bad boys, she dated Lochlan after all. And then there was that whole stint with the big scary Ares dude that randomly vanished. But this guy might have taken the cake. He literally arrived at camp sporting a fucked up face and looked like the kind of guy women would clutch their purses around. Even roughed up, he was still cute though. Blair enjoyed slumming it from time to time and she was always DTF. She quirked a brow, looking him up and down, and even added a subtle flick of her tongue along her lips. Oh yeah, she was down. And there was something even more enjoyable about eye fucking the guy walking with the girl that broke her brother’s heart. Poetic.

Blair made sure her gaze held onto him the entire time he walked past. She even looked back over her shoulder at him making it very obvious that she was interested. It had been a long time since she was manhandled by a guy like that. Just the thought of it gave her flutterings beneath her skirt. "Mmm," she mused to herself with a delighted little smile.

Once out of earshot of the pair, she turned to her brother. "While I have no standards when it comes to what’s attached to a penis, Sloane’s have certainly taken a dive." While she would have hit on that guy eventually, the thought of foiling any potential of friendships, or otherwise, that Sloane might get was a fun added challenge. Lochlan would probably grump and tell her not to be a bitch, but he didn’t have to know. While some might think Liam vanishing at the drop of a hat was fair enough punishment, Blair was petty and vindictive. It was some of her most redeeming qualities.

Lochlan draped his arm across her shoulders as the new gaggle of campers came into view when they rounded the stables. "I...saw it and thought of you," he said with a cunning smile. Oh, it really was like Christmas at Camp Athens. Blair was ready and raring to go. Her gaze flitted from face to face trying to decide who was her first target. But when she went to divide and conquer, Lochlan’s arm tightened, holding her back. She sighed and rolled her eyes. "How do we wanna play this? Because there's a lot."

"You’re far too pretty to try thinking so much." Blair wedged her shoulders free. "Personally, I have a bit of a sweet tooth and I see a lovely piece of chocolate over there. Don’t overthink it. Just go where your heart leads you," She waved her hands dramatically. "Or where he does," she added, gesturing toward his lower half. "I’m sure between one of the two you can make a decision." She gave him a finger wiggling wave and was off.

Camp had turned into a buffet with so many delectable options. There were plenty of men that caught her eye, like the one with long hair talking to Nelly. Sadly, most were occupied. Normally Blair would love ruffling some feathers and wedging herself where she might not have been welcome, but there was plenty of time for that. No need to rush. Luckily enough for her, there was a handsome, dark skinned man off all by his lonesome. What a shame.

Weaving her way through the new campers, her pace slowed when she caught sight of a gorgeous blonde standing near the entrance with an excessive amount of luggage, reminding her of when she arrived at camp. While Blair was straight, for all intents and purposes, she had dabbled in some girl on girl action in High School. It was a threesome and she had no desire of doing the Eiffel Tower. But this girl gave her pause, and for a brief moment she considered doing a little more than just dabbling. When she started giving her a once over, her upper eastsider mind regained control of her senses as Blair saw her clothes. "Oh my God, I love your outfit!" She smiled. "You’re also stunning, by the way," she complimented the blonde shamelessly as she passed by.

"Hello there," Blair sang as she appeared before Mr.Tall-dark-and-handsome, after snaking her way through the crowd. "You looked like you might be in need of help and I have been known to be helpful a couple times in my life," she laughed with an effortlessly charming smile. Her left hand tucked black curls behind her ear and then she offered him her right. "I’m Blair, and this—" she gestured to everything around and behind her, "You, no doubt, already know—Is the hellhole that is Camp Athens." She hated camp, that was obvious. There weren’t nearly enough amenities as she would like, such as internet and cell service. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t be welcoming. She just had to find other ways to entertain herself.

^{interactions ....|.... lochlan, chariselle & osée ............... mentions ....|.... sloane & ace ............... collabs ....|.... none}

Camp Athens

^{#86a8ad ....|..... outfit .....|..... beach}

River didn’t really have a goal or destination in mind. He wanted to find his footing at camp and it just felt like the right place to start was figuring out the lay of the land. A map would have been helpful, but the one they got was with Ocean and there was no way in Hades he was going to ask Andy to conjure one up for him. Call it pride, or maybe just his ego, but it would take more than a map for him to go to her for help. He wouldn’t admit it outloud, but she made him look and feel like an idiot. He wasn’t particularly in the mood to rehash that.

Too lost in his thoughts, he didn’t hear approaching footsteps. He had nearly reached the end of the beach when a voice spoke out to him from behind, taking him by surprise. "Acquainting yourself with the area?" River pivoted on his heels, the snow and sand mixing beneath his soles. She pointed northwest of where they stood, beyond the trees and cabins. "The Main Hall’s that way if you want some food, drinks, warm coffee. Just a good area to recoup second to your own cabin." She inhaled and shrugged, then continued on her path past him. His gaze followed where she pointed and then trailed after her.

River, with his social ineptitude, stood frozen, far too long, trying to decide what to say or how to respond. His social battery often lived at 20% and whatever happened with Andy had tanked it thoroughly. But he didn’t want to be rude. He wanted to start his time at camp on the right foot. Go be friendly, he repeated in his mind several times like a mantra before finally getting his feet to move.

He took off in a light jog, his long stride making it easy to catch up to her just as she turned up the path that branched off the beach. Once in sync with the redhead and with an apologetic half smile he finally spoke, "Sorry. You caught me off guard." River slid his hands into his pockets, trying his best to regulate his body temperature, not used to colder climates. "This place kinda felt like a ghost town and I just kind of assumed it was." He shrugged his shoulders. Before her the only other person he had seen was Andy, so it wasn’t an off based assumption.

"I think I saw that building when I came in. My sister was more interested in snagging a cabin before others arrived, rather than food. You up for some company?" Who the hell did he think he was? River was the farthest thing from a social butterfly. His social ineptitude was on par with a toddler, blunt and borderline insulting. Why he thought it was a good idea to tag along, he wasn’t sure. On the one hand he was being friendly… or trying to be. But he also felt insanely out of his element. He wasn’t someone who sought small talk. He kind of hated it, honestly.

Luckily for him, she didn’t seem too bothered by his presence, one way or the other. So, unless she shooed him away, River kept walking in stride with her, letting her lead in pace and direction. When the silence seemed long and awkward enough, he turned slightly, walking sideways while offering her his right hand. "I’m River, by the way."

Maybe he was too wrapped up in his own thoughts, or blind… or just oblivious, all of the above possible, but it wasn’t until that moment that River got a proper look at the girl. It’s not that he never interacted with women his age, but he rarely had time for them. Of course he had seen attractive women before, but through the TV or from a distance, never next to him and definitely never talking to them.

She was stunning. Her red hair contrasted her pale skin like a flame in a snowstorm. He never really saw himself as someone who had a thing for redheads, but it suited her in a way he couldn’t explain. She was like a statue, cold and alluring. Her features were sharp, angular, and so symmetrical they had to have been chiseled from marble. She was an enigmatic beauty that confused the living shit out of him. He hadn’t the foggiest clue how to talk to a girl, let alone one a fraction as attractive as she was. He was dumbfounded and at a loss for words. Ocean should have prepared him for this… Or maybe she did and he was too thick to care.

"You’re kind of gorgeous, you know?" River’s brows furrowed as he squinted his eyes. His face scrunched in disbelief of himself. "Sorry, I don’t know why I said that." He held his hands up innocently and shrugged. "Yeah… So anyway," He cleared his throat and turned to face forward with a small swing of his leg. He went from being freezing cold to feeling like he was in a furnace, sweating in the coldest weather he’s ever experienced. Go figure. It was becoming very obvious that River had no clue how to have a normal conversation.

They walked in silence for a while. Probably better that way. Having no filter didn’t mean he needed to blurt out everything that crossed his mind. But apparently he was incapable of that distinction. The quiet was good for him to ground himself and get his mind back on track. The main throughway of the camp slowly came into view as they neared a large coliseum-like structure. His mind immediately switched into tactical mode and started taking inventory of the different facilities and the various demigods that wandered about. River was counting, sizing up, and planning. This was why his father sent him there, not to get tongue tied because a pretty girl spoke to him.

"Do you like it here? Because, from what I’ve heard about this place, I don’t know how anyone could like it here." River needed another person’s opinion, someone to gauge what it was actually like there. "Andy was very defensive of this place. But I don’t see the appeal."

Camp seemed like a breeding ground for petty teenage drama and a severe lack of discipline. He could see why his father sent him there, but he was concerned at how steep this uphill battle was going to be. If the rest of the campers were even a fraction as passionate as Andy was, this wasn’t going to be easy. He wasn’t there to make friends, but he didn’t want to face the road ahead at odds with everyone in camp either. The last thing he wanted was to disappoint his father. Poseidon had told Ocean and himself not to trust anyone and he had every intention of heeding his father’s warning… But would it be so wrong for him to have a friend or two?

River shook his head, trying to get himself out of his own mind. He was there for business, not pleasure. It didn’t matter what he wanted… Right?

^{interactions ....|.... evelyn ............... mentions ....|.... andy & ocean ............... collabs ....|.... none}

Camp Athens

^{............#f7941d ....|..... black hoodie .....|..... entrance > his cabin ........................ #c7b29b ....|..... outfit .....|..... activities field > ace's cabin .....|..... rocco}

The last twenty-four hours was nothing short of a fever dream. In life, there were too many coincidences… too many times Ace dodged disaster without understanding how, including the other night. He met a God, who turned out to be his father. He watched this ‘de facto camp leader’ perform some form of Earth Magic? Right in front of him. His eyes scanned around, to watch the reactions of those around him. Who else was surprised? Who else was new here? Not new to the location, but new to this. Because Ace’s mind was still scrambling to fit all that he’s witnessed, into the rules he’s always known.

“Son of Hermes.” “Daughter of Hecate.” It felt like he jumped into one of those - “Parry Hotter” - type of movies Jordan would force him to watch all-day. But these weren’t special effects. This wasn’t a street magician’s sleight of hand trick. This was real. Ace rubbed his eyes, suddenly feeling another wave of exhaustion creeping forth. He made his way to the board after ‘Andromeda’ made her exit, and grabbed one of the maps. The woman simply said to claim a cabin, and Ace knew immediately which one he wanted. Fourteen seemed the furthest from any social activities. Not too close to the beach or the activity field, which should mean privacy. Solitude.

Thwack! Ace was no longer lost in his train of thought during his walk. Packed tight and wet, a snowball whacked him in the side of the head with surprising precision. The impact jerked his head sideways, his hood flying back to expose his bruised face to the cold. He froze in place, blinking snowflakes from his eyelashes. His fists curled, expression sharpening into a scowl. A puff of breath escapes his lips, curling like smoke in the frosty air. His hair - already more brown/orange than blonde from Arizona desert dust and dried blood - now damp. He slowly turned to face the source.

“You got two seconds to explain before I bea-” Ace shut up, once he saw the grey puppy and small woman that accompanied him. ‘Calm… down…’ he thought to himself. The anger still buzzed in his veins. The night before, the irritation of his arrival, all of it. But he allowed his expression to soften. He bent on one knee, ignoring the cold of the snow as it crept into his knee. He slowly reached a hand out.

Sloane gasped, snow covered hands clapping over her mouth in shock, but mostly embarrassment. Her face quickly flushed, turning far more red than the cold was ever able to accomplish. “Oh no,” she muttered into hands, hurrying over to the guy to make sure he was ok.

“Can I pet him?” He offered a warm smile, a contrast to his horrible face. “I don’t mind if he bites, I can handle it…” Ace made sure to lock eyes with the woman, not hiding the fact that his gaze was taking in every detail of her face.

Truth be told, he noticed the puppy before he noticed her. She was almost… invisible, and Ace wouldn’t let anything go unnoticed by him any longer. His eyes gracefully traced her sharp cheekbones that caught the light like sculptures. Her flowing hair framed her face like the brushstrokes on a river painting. His eyes caught hers once more - brown, but opaque, a pair of antique mirrors reflecting thoughts she hadn’t spoken. She was beautiful, all things considered. Ace had her down, and now he wouldn’t forget. Couldn’t forget.

“Oh, yeah. He doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.” Sloane replied quickly, half sweeping her answer under the rug. She couldn’t care less if he pet Rocco. She was far more concerned about her abysmal first introduction with someone new at camp. It was that sort of thing that kept her hidden away like the mouse everyone assumed her to be. “I’m so sorry. I have the athletic coordination of a blind panda.” Her fingers nervously fiddled with one of the large buttons on her coat. She had an entire second round of word vomit loaded and ready to fire, but when she finally lifted her eyes from the velvet cloth she was met by his own intense, unapologetic gaze.

Sloane usually grew uncomfortable at prolonged eye contact, yet her gaze didn’t waiver so long as his remained fixed on hers. His eyes were darker than any she had ever seen before, like the sky on a starless night. But even in their void, they didn’t carry a foreboding sense of dread as one might imagine. His presence was like an inkblot on the pure white canvas of snow. Everything about him was dark, from his eyes, to his snow soaked hoodie. She stood frozen, not from the cold, but from his piercing gaze that studied her intently. It was only when he looked away that she noticed the shades of purple and blue that surrounded the dark pools of his eyes.

“Oh my Gods,” she whispered and fell to her knees in front of him on the other side of Rocco. She hardly noticed the cold as the snow dampened the edges of her skirt. Sloane leaned forward to gently cup his jaw in her petite hands. She was not the type of person to invade someone’s personal bubble, especially not touch them, but in that moment her inhibitions took a back seat to guilt and panic. “Did I do this?” She muttered under her breath, more to herself than him. No, this couldn’t have been her. Bruises don’t form that quickly. Sloane could barely open a jar on her own, there’s no way she could have done that… Right?

She gingerly tilted his head from one side to the other while her eyes frantically assessed his wounds. The pale skin of his face looked like an aurora from all the shades of blue, purple and tinges of yellow that bloomed across his nose and surrounded his right eye. His nose, which might have once been straight and sharp, was swollen along the bridge. Her left hand hesitated before brushing his damp curls out of his face to get a better look at his eye. He was rough around the edges, but even beneath the bruises she could tell he was handsome, if not also reckless. Sloane tilted her head to the side slightly, a sympathetic smile graced her lips as she dropped her hands. “I’m sorry if I made it worse.” She finally broke the silence. “Is there anyway I can help?”

"Um..." Ace murmured as he kept his eyes fixated upon the grey puppy. He gave Rocco pats on the head, scratches under the chin, that then led to bully rubs. What initially was a genuine interest in the dog, turned into a distraction to avert his eyes as Sloane's tender, soft touch moved his head around and brushed the hair out of his face. A subtle pink color rose from his neck to his cheeks. Now what the fuck was this feeling? There was no way in hell, he felt nervous. Uncomfortable? A more, comfortable, description. The feeling of someone else analyzing him, potentially wanting to remember his every detail, for a deeper plot which made him uncomfortable. Yeah, that worked for him. He cleared his throat before his gaze met hers, once more.

"Yes, you actually dislocated my nose again!" Ace thought to himself. He could probably make that work. With how bruised it was, could she tell the difference? "I thought I had a concussion already, now it's confirmed!" That thought in of itself was pretty idiotic. Was this girl really that dumb to believe a snowball would cause a concussion, of all things? There was no way to flip the situation. He felt his anger subsiding. Just a dumb mistake, wrong place... wrong time. Ace allowed himself to blink, noticing he spaced off for a second... again.

"Sorry about that, it's been a long night." He stood and reached down to help Sloane to her feet. Though, with how light she was, the lack of resistance accidentally lifted her to her feet in one smooth, unintended motion. She practically floated off the ground before Ace steadied her, hands catching her waist before she could even wobble. He let go and took a singular step back, for her comfortability's sake. "I'm... fine, thank you. I'm sorry that you got your skirt wet. You didn't have to do that on account of me..." He pulled his hood back on. His brows furrowed as his hands slapped against his two hoodie pockets, and then his jeans, as he patted for the map. It was missing, and he had no idea where it'd gone. Did he drop it when she struck him with her special attack?

When he offered her his hand, Sloane hesitated before lightly resting her palm against his. “I can imagine—” Her words caught in her throat, startled at how easily she was lifted up. She gasped as she went from kneeling in the snow, to standing with his hands on her waist. Sloane didn’t quite know how to react, standing a bit frozen, flushed and wide eyed until he took a step back. She cleared her throat and ran her hands along her skirt making sure it laid flat and wasn’t hiked up anywhere. The damp fabric clung to her knees but otherwise wasn’t too bad. “You’re fine—It’s fine. Clothes dry.” The tip of her middle finger ran along her temple, hooking around loose hair and tucked it behind her ear. “It’s nothing compared to a snowball to the face,” she added with a sheepish smile and weak laugh.

"Actually, is there something you can do for me?" He asked, flashing a smile once again. "I uh... lost my map. You wouldn't happen to know where cabin fourteen is, would you?"

At the mention of something being lost, Sloane reactively looked around trying to see if the map was somewhere nearby. You’d think something like that would stand out against the white snow. It took a second for her to register what he said. “Oh, fourteen?” Her gaze found its way back up this. His smile wasn’t big and toothy. It was simple and charming, creating creases in his bruised skin. “Yeah, that’s right near my cabin. I’m in sixteen,” she added with a small mousey smile that matched her petite and unassuming demeanor.

She looked down at the grey pup, her smile growing slightly. “Alright Rocco, back home.” He barked, jumped, and spun in a couple circles before running off in the direction of the stables. Sloane started after him, her boots crunching the fresh powder under heel. After a few steps, she looked back at the bruised demigod. “It’s this way.” She motioned her thumb over her shoulder in the direction Rocco ran off in, beckoning the guy to follow.

Ace nodded and followed along. He was impressed by how well-trained Rocco was. Most dogs where he was from were strays, and half the time turned out to be coyotes in the distance. Snow, well-trained dogs, magic... he was definitely out of his element. Ace kept his hands stuffed in his pockets and kept a reasonable distance, a foot or two behind Sloane. His boots crunched softly in her wake, and for a while, that were the only sounds made between them. The last thing he wanted was to make this woman uncomfortable. Nestled among the trees, the outline of various cabins began to emerge. He could only imagine that they were relatively close, but he still had no information about Camp Athens and what this whole ordeal was. Finally, he broke the silence.

"Name is Ace, by the way..." He quickened his pace for a second, so he was now walking adjacent to her. "So, did you always know about... this?" He gestured with his arms, to encapsulate what 'this' meant. "Or did you find out, and have your head all fucked up like mine is right now?"

Sloane slowed herself, allowing her pace to sync up with his. “I’m Sloane,” she replied, offering up her own name along with a small smile. “Umm,” she inhaled deeply trying to decide how to reply. No one had ever asked her about how she found out about her mother, or her life before camp honestly. Her arms crossed tightly over her chest like a reflex when asked a personal question. “No, I knew for awhile… Several years before camp.”

She caught a glimpse of a wagging grey tail as it started rounding the corner toward the path that led to her cabin. Sloane whistled to get his attention, then called out to him. “Rocco!” The puppy quickly grabbed a stick that was half submerged in snow and ran back to them.

Her pace slowed, gaze fixated on no particular point the snow. Sloane’s hand slipped under the collar of her coat to rub her neck. “Politics was no place for a girl,” she quoted her father with a forlorn look in her eyes. “My father sent me away to be molded by my mother. I was with her for a couple years. But I wasn’t told about camp until shortly before we were sent here… My brother and I,” she brushed off the tail end of her answer, hoping not to linger on Sylas if she could help it. She answered Ace’s questions, albeit vaguely, but she doubted he wanted the entire story of her life. People rarely cared.

Sloane’s steps slowed as she turned to face him, looking up into his eyes shadowed beneath his messy curls and hood. “Did your parents spring it on you?”

Ace caught on to that. It was something about the way she hesitantly mentioned her brother that caught his attention. Dead sibling? A strained relationship? He wasn't sure, but he would make note of it to see if he could find anyone that resembled her later. It was clear she didn't want to speak on it, and it wasn't his place to push. Still, her story told him that he could expect to find people from all upbringings. Ace just found out. Sloane was raised, or rather, 'molded' by her own. Ace reached down to grab the stick from Rocco, tossing it not-too-far ahead in an attempt to play 'fetch'. This would be his first time. "Uh, yeah kinda..."

"I mean, my mom's not here anymore," Ace looked down at Sloane with a notable lack of emotion in his eyes when speaking said statement. Acceptance, guarded, or uncaring was completely impossible to discern. "But Hermes, I met him last night actually. Guy is a fuckin' character, I'll tell ya' that. Showed up at my spot with a hoodie and a bus ticket." Ace slightly tugged at the collar of his hoodie. A chuckle escaped his lips, but nothing was truly humorous at the moment.

"I thought I was skipping to the next town over, maybe even Pheonix. The last thing I expected was to wake up in the fuckin' north pole of all places." It was an over-exaggeration for sure, but falling asleep in Arizona waking up to snow was not fun. He just hoped the temperature fluctuation wouldn't make him sick.

Her brows knit together when he mentioned his mother. A dead loved one is something Sloane couldn’t relate to when her life tended to lack people close enough to be considered a loved one. She still imagined that speaking about it would make him have some sort of reaction… Something at all. But his eyes were absent, a void mirroring their dark hollows. Her gaze shifted back to Rocco, watching him fetch the stick repeatedly while they walked the last final stretch toward Ace’s new cabin.

“My mother, Eris… Is just intimidating,” she said with a tight lipped smile and small shrug of her shoulders. While Sloane had gotten used to her mother’s commanding presence in the time she spent with her, it made her and what she could do no less terrifying.

“We’re in Greece,” she contradicted with a soft chuckle. “You could probably grab a coat from the lost and found in the Main Hall.I think anything I’d have to offer would be too small.” Sloane had no issue handing over one of her jackets, but considering she was tiny compared to most of the other campers, she’d be surprised if he could manage to fit his arm in one of the sleeves.

Sloane took a couple steps forward and turned around to face him. She pointed to the path on her left that led to a rundown looking cabin. Her face scrunched up trying to understand why camp would create that for him. But she didn’t claim to understand God magic. In the end, if it was what he wanted, who was she to judge? “Cabin fourteen?” She asked, rhetorically, partly confused but also wanting to be sure she remembered the right number. “My cabin is around that corner, the only one on the left, if you need anything.” She didn’t really have much to offer in the realm of assistance but she still offered. It was the polite thing to do.

The cabin in the distance significantly stood out in contrast to the other cabins in the area. The cabin looked like it had been there for decades—centuries, maybe. Even from where they stood, Ace could see the roof sagging in certain spots. Sheets of rusting tin and matted moss patched it. One shutter hung askew, banging softly against the side during a breeze. The walls, made from darkened logs streaked with old rain, leaned ever so slightly, like a tired old man trying to stand straight for company. Ivy crept up one corner, wrapping the structure in a slow, leafy embrace. Still, Ace knew the value of having a roof over your head. Any roof. Aesthetics wasn't a luxury he was ever offered. His room was just upstairs in a bar after all, which was no longer standing, which meant no turning back. This was his home now. Rundown cabin. Camp Athens. Greece. Ace would start taking full advantage of it by getting some good ass sleep, because that last fact was enough to allow the exhaustion to wash over him. Ace threw the stick for Rocco, one last time.

"Cabin fourteen," Ace confirmed with a nod. The walk was quicker than he thought, and he was appreciative of the company all things considered. It helped him keep his mind off of the other night, as well as the cold. The lost and found idea didn't seem too bad. "I appreciate you helping me out, Sloane. I owe you one, alright?" He bent down, giving Rocco a farewell scratch behind the ears. Ace would then stand and begin walking towards his cabin, eager to warm up. He would then stop and pivot suddenly.

"Hey, you going to that party tonight?" Ace asked. "You seem like you stay to yourself, but I hope I see you there. Maybe we can pick up where we left off?" He smirked. "I promise there'll be, uh, less waist holding. If that softens the deal?"

Sloane didn’t understand how he owed her when she was the one that hit him in the face with a snowball. But she didn’t argue. She had no intention of holding him to his word and just hoped they could forget about that unfortunate turn of events. She inhaled when he mentioned the party. “I hadn’t decided,” she admitted, absent mindedly petting Rocco’s head as he sat at her feet. His assessment of her wasn’t incorrect. A bunch of demigods drinking and fooling around rarely ended well. She much rather be holed up in her cabin with a good book and her dog.

She found it hard to hold his gaze again as the embarrassment crept its way back up to her cheeks when he mentioned waist holding. She tucked her hair behind her ear out of a nervous habit and picked up Rocco’s stick. “I’ll consider it.” Sloane’s gaze drifted back to his. “It was nice meeting you, Ace.”

She flashed him one last smile before turning back in the direction they came from. “Ok, buddy. Let’s get some breakfast,” she spoke quietly to the dog. Sloane hesitated for a minute making sure there was no one in her line of sight, then through the stick for Rocco. As he ran off, she tucked her hands in her pockets and followed after him without turning back.

^{interactions ....|.... none ............... mentions ....|.... none ............... collabs ....|.... @Expllo}

Camp Athens

^{#bd1664 ....|..... outfit .....|..... entrance > main hall}

It took a bit of self control for Andy not to glance back over her shoulder toward River and Ocean as she walked away. Her first interaction with the new demigods did not go well. It wasn’t her intention to immediately cause problems, but it really chapped her ass when someone talked down to her. Especially when he had no clue what they had been through. She pressed her thumb into the palm of her right hand as she trudged through the snow toward the Main Hall. If she kept that shit up, she’d be on her way to being a social outcast. Wouldn’t Mason love that.

She had every intention of going about her day like it was any other day: go to the main hall, eat breakfast, then immediately make herself too busy to dwell in her own thoughts. Her to-do list wasn’t getting any shorter and half of what she needed to do could only be done by her… Or Daniel. But she didn’t fully trust her brother to help without creating a monster or turning the sledding hill into a crazy death trap. His modus operandi always involved causing problems rather than solving them. Which was exactly why she didn’t ask for his help.

Her pace slowed slightly when she noticed Sylas walking toward her, presumably with a similar goal of heading into the Main Hall. Andy rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue in her mouth. She had zero intention of walking in with him or humoring whatever conversations he’d want to have. While he might not be at camp anymore, she remembered what Liam had said about him. Sylas was bad news. That was enough for her.

Something moved out of the corner of her eye and nearly caught her attention… Until she saw someone coming up behind Sylas, Mason. She sucked in a sharp breath, the cold air making her teeth uncomfortably frigid like she bit straight into a popsicle. Even pissed, her heart still skipped a beat when she saw him. There was a gnawing in her gut telling her to go to him, kiss him and move on. But her mind festered in her anger like quicksand. And unfortunately for Mason, she was stubborn… as hell. He didn’t seem to notice her as he patted Sylas on the shoulder and made his way inside, but Andy’s gaze never left him until he disappeared into the Main Hall. She sighed, frustrated at herself, and her own conflicting emotions. "Pathetic."

Just as she started up the stairs to the Main Hall, a voice called out from behind, catching her attention. "Anyone home?" Andy was hoping to avoid being all susie-camper because she really did have a lot to get done. "Hellooooo!" the voice sung out again. Maybe the new camp leader River would do his leader shit, and show people around the camp. You know, the camp that he knew nothing about. She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. Not likely. She took a deep breath, then spun around.

Her eyes widened, surprised to already see several new faces wandering onto the grounds. And, shocker, no River in sight. Andy rolled her eyes as she hopped back down the steps. One of the first arrivals was a tall man with dark hair. He looked friendly, and rather calm, if not a bit lost as well. Luckily, or unluckily depending on how antisocial you were, Nelly rushed over, practically sprinting, and waving her arms around to get the guy’s attention. It definitely looked a little nuts, but she was thankful for one less person she had to greet. Andy flashed him a smile and a quick, "Welcome to camp," as she continued past them. Not far beyond them she noticed her brother greeting another new camper, but at this point she was on a mission and couldn’t stop to chit chat.

There seemed to be a growing congregation of campers lingering around the entrance or slowly wandering toward the main hall. Andy was definitely not someone who liked being the center of attention, or public speaking. But rather than bouncing around from person to person, she figured she’d handle it all at once, no matter how uncomfortable it made her. She snaked her way through the newbies, trying to get as central as possible. She licked her lips, then pressed her ring and pinky fingers against her tongue, letting out a loud whistle. "Attention new campers," she called out, waving her right hand in the air to get everyone’s attention.

Once everyone was looking at her, Andy took a deep breath, trying to keep her nerves in check before continuing. Gods there were a lot of them. "Sorry that there’s no proper welcome. I was notified of your arrival like 5 minutes ago… So yeah." Andy laughed awkwardly. Ironic the Gods told her to make preparations for the new campers without giving her time to actually make said preparations. "Anyway," she clapped her hands together softly. "I’m Andromeda Bolton, Andy. Daughter of Hecate, if that matters." She always thought it was weird introducing herself by sharing who her mother was. But in a demigod camp, people seemed to care about that sort of thing. "I am—was the de facto camp leader after…" Her voice trailed off, struggling to find the words to say, in the end deciding not to say anything. She didn’t want to scare them all right after they arrived with what they went through a couple months ago.

She took a few steps back toward the edge of the activities field closest to the entrance. Andy flicked her right hand toward the ground. Her outstretched fingers trembled slightly as something roughly 4 feet wide emerged from the earth. She raised her hand, lifting the conjured board until it stood a bit taller than herself. Where there once was nothing now stood a wooden bulletin board like the ones near nature trails. Andy flicked the blank surface and a large enchanted map of camp appeared, taking up a majority of the wooden board. It showed every building and location of importance, all the cabins, taken and available, along with the current time, weather, and event schedule, which conveniently highlighted the New Year’s party with little fireworks that went off on a loop. And on either side of the stand there were wooden pockets holding folded pamphlet sized maps like the one she made for Ocean.

"These maps are enchanted. All the cabins are listed and once you claim one it’ll update." She scratched her head trying to think of anything else. Andy then started to point to the various buildings around them as she listed them off. "Main Hall has food 24/7, although most cabins have kitchens or kitchenettes for anyone who prefers to cook for themselves. Couldn’t be me," she added with a laugh, poking fun at her own lack of skill. "Main Office is for the camp leader, Infirmary, stables, practice range, and that’s the Armory behind it. Oh and the Arena." She motioned to the giant colosseum-like structure at the far end of the field. "Everything else is on the map. If you see anyone around that looks like they know what they’re doing, they’ve probably been here awhile. Feel free to bug them if you have questions. Or the big tall surfer looking dude. He’s the new leader." Ok, so she might have added the part about River because the thought of people asking him questions and him having no clue was hilarious.

"Also tonight, at sundown, there will be a New Year’s Eve party here." She pointed toward the field behind her. "Everyone is welcome and it could be a good way to… Socialize or whatever." Andy laughed awkwardly again, her nerves taking their toll. "So, yeah, I think that’s it. If anyone needs help with their cabins or anything, I should be around," Andy motioned to the field behind her a second time as that was likely where most of her day would be spent. "There’s also my brother, Daniel—Daniel raise your hand." Once she saw his hand, she pointed toward him so everyone could see him. "He can do magic and conjure shit too. But he also causes problems. So don’t trust him," she teased with a playful smile.

With nothing else to add, Andy gave a slight nod and one last wave. "Welcome to Camp Athens." Ok, now food. She smiled at the demigods as she weaved her way through them and headed back toward the Main Hall. By that point her stomach was screaming, desperate for some sustenance.

As she made her way inside, she was surprised to see Ocean already helping herself to some food. Mason, of course, had found the most remote and secluded table, farthest away from the door. And there was also Iliana, who she often ran into around breakfast time. Andy was starving, yet at the same time had no desire to eat, but she needed her energy for the amount of magic the party set up was going to take. She stacked a plate full of food, mostly carbs and protein, like she was a bodybuilder. She tucked an apple under her arm and grabbed some orange juice. Hopefully that was enough.

With her arms full to their breaking point, Andy turned to face the tables. She had already started off on the wrong foot with Ocean and her brother, they didn’t need to rehash that so soon. Her auto-pilot started carrying her toward Mason’s table. It probably would have been an awkward and silent meal… but, she also knew he hated how people tended to gravitate toward her. Rather than making their whole situation worse, and more awkward, at the possibility of a newbie joining them, she opted for the table closest to the entrance and the buffets. This way she was open and available if it’d make people more comfortable to bother her. She didn’t mind.

No longer the center of attention, Andy was finally able to breathe and began digging into her mountain of food.

^{interactions ....|.... anissa, anatoliy, chariselle, osée, daniel, azariah, lennie, marlen, ace & elysium ............... mentions ....|.... ocean, river, mason, sylas, nelly & iliana}

Camp Athens

^{#bd1664 ....|..... outfit .....|..... main office}

A flash of lightning illuminated the sky for a brief second, followed by a crash of thunder that shook the whole camp. The rain was oppressive. The ground felt like a frigid pool of mud. It clung to her skin and snaked through her hair. No matter how hard she tried, Andy couldn’t move. She could barely keep her eyes open, rain blinding her as it fell onto her face. The mud felt like it was turning to concrete, weighing her down, rigid and unyielding.

Muscles tensed as she used every ounce of strength she had to lift her head from the ground. With a grunt, through clenched teeth, she barely managed to wedge her elbows under her and prop herself up. A deep, piercing heat radiated from her left forearm. The mangled gashes seethed in protest at the pressure, blood pooling and mixing with the rain and mud.

Lightning, like a flashbang, blinded Andy. Thunder deafened her. Then like a wave, she was slammed back into the ground, the wind knocked out of her.

No… Wait…

She couldn’t breathe. Heavy weight pressed down on her chest and squeezed at her throat. Her hands shot to her neck, gripping and clawing at whatever constricted her. She gasped for air, but only got rain. Legs kicked and thrashed, but nothing could break its hold.

Another flash of lightning revealed her own face grinning menacingly back down at Andy as it squeezed tighter. She tried to scream but there was no sound, just gasps and sputtering water. A strong gust of air stole the doppelgänger's attention. It looked up just in time to see a giant taloned paw come crashing down on them.

Andy bolted upright in her bed with a scream. Her hand clutched at her heaving chest, panting heavily. "Fuck," she cursed under her breath.

Once she managed to catch her breath and calm down, she let out a deep sigh. Her gaze fell to her left arm which rested in her lap. Her wounds did not heal pretty. There were deep gashes where the skin was thin and stretched. She could see the muscle shifting beneath her taut skin as she opened and closed her fist. Her fingertips slowly ran over the trophy left behind by the Nemean lion’s claws, rising and falling with every gash.

She had lost count how many night’s sleep she had lost from nightmares. It used to be the Underworld and memories of her torment that plagued her dreams. But ever since Pandora’s box, it’s all that’s been on her mind. One stupid little box caused more damage, destruction, and death than anything else they had encountered at camp… including the war.

Where was Ajax? Where were the Gods?

Zeus was too busy coddling his precious boy and murderous daughter to give two shits about what happened to the rest of them. Ajax was supposed to be here leading them, not that she can recall him ever doing that. But that was his job, not protecting his psychotic sister at every turn. Gods, what did she ever see in him?

…It didn’t matter. He made his choice. He was gone.

And Nick? She didn’t know him well, and he wasn’t at camp for long, but he deserved better. Everyone who died did. She was never able to figure out what exactly happened, but what did it matter? It was the box. It all was because of the box.

Andy exhaled and ran her hands over her face. She finally looked over at her clock, 7:57 a.m. Well, at least she made it until the morning before having a crippling nightmare. Silvering linings. She was still up a bit early for her to start her daily routine. She had started doing daily morning announcements after the whole box incident. There was never really anything to share. She just wanted everyone to know they weren’t alone, especially while they were all healing and bedridden… and no one told her to stop.

She wasn’t sure why she stepped up to lead camp… if you can call it that. Maybe it was because no one else did? Or maybe because camp was her home and she couldn’t stand by and watch it crumble apart. Andy spent every morning exhausting every ounce of magic she had to rebuild and fortify. Then every afternoon checking in on the injured and bringing them food. It was a lot of work, but after 3 months everything was rebuilt, bigger and better and stronger. Not only was everything back to the way it was before the box, she also built a 15 foot perimeter wall around camp with one gate in or out, aside from the lake. She also added emergency buttons in every building and cabin, along with some free standing ones like you would see at a college, that would trigger a camp wide alarm. It was excessive, she knew that, but extra safety protocols might save lives in the future. She hoped.

It was Andy’s first day free since the box, which also just happened to be New Year’s Eve. So rather than relaxing, she gave herself another list of tasks to keep herself busy. Although this time, at least, it was for a much needed celebration. Nothing depressing. She promised herself that today was going to be about fun and ringing in the new year. Nothing else.

She leaned over and grabbed a folded piece of paper from her nightstand. She opened it and started double checking, for like the tenth time, that she didn’t forget anything.

_{New Year’s Eve to do list}

• Morning announcements - remind everyone about the party... festivities... Celebration?
• Remember to eat, you’re too skinny
• Double check menu
  
  • Hot chocolate
  • Smores
  • Finger foods… warm
  • Champagne
  • Booze??
• Prep the activities field
  
  • Ice skating rink
  • Big bonfire, with chairs, log benches and blankets
  • Sledding/tubing hill - maybe build off of the arena and have it come down between the practice range and stables?
    
    • Make sure you can reach the top from the arena or add stairs
  • Small food pavilion with tables - close to main hall in case we need more food
  • Fireworks - talk to Duke
• For the love of the Gods, shower… you smell

Andy’s brows furrowed as she tilted her head to the side to smell under her arm. "Ugh... Right. Shower."

She put the list back on her nightstand and threw her blanket off. "Holy shit," she hissed when the cold air hit her bare legs. It wasn’t until the moment that she actually looked out her windows and noticed that there was at least 6 inches of snow, with more still falling. Normally she liked her little glass cabin, but at moments like that Andy could have gone for some insulation. Not wanting to waste more time than necessary in the cold, she quickly gathered some fresh clothes and went into the bathroom, desperate for a warm shower.

Andy stayed in the shower until the hot water ran out and she had no choice but to get out. As much as she hated it, she spent the proper amount of timing blowing dry her hair. The last thing she needed was getting sick. Then Mason and Trinity would be extra pissed at her for working herself to death.

Once everything was properly dried, she wasted no time getting dressed, trying to keep as much warmth in as possible. She grabbed her hat and gloves, stepped into her boots that she left drying by the door, and headed out into the snow. Andy made it a whole 10 feet before she was already turning back to grab the note she forgot on the nightstand. She shook her head in frustration as she shoved the paper in her pocket, then left… again.

Camp had never been so quiet as it was in the morning with the snow falling. It was peaceful, serene. Andy could almost forget the terrible things that had happened here over the years. Her pace slowed as she neared the path that led to Mason’s cabin. Part of her wanted to go check on him, maybe see if he wanted to join her. But there was still a small part of her hurt and mad at him for what he said the night of the box. He apologized, he did. And Andy forgave him. But it’s not that easy for her to get over things… Especially not that. Maybe she still needed more time. She shoved her hands in her pockets and continued down the main trail toward the center of camp.

She hadn’t seen any footprints in the snow on the way to the main office, nothing aside from the occasional animal tracks. It wasn’t uncommon for her to be the first person awake and out of bed. Her nightmares rarely let her sleep in, but at least she got to enjoy some of the silence alone before the day got started.

As Andy approached the main office, her gaze drifted to a piece of paper tacked to the door frame. Her brows furrowed as she gently tugged it free.

On the eve of the new year, several demigods are expected to arrive at camp. Make the necessary preparations for their arrival, as well as a new leader, and rigorous training regimen.

Ω

Stunned, Andy stood there, frozen, paper clenched tight in her grasp. For 3 months the Gods had been silent, not a word or sign... Nothing. Not even for their fallen children. A new leader?! She had been breaking her back, working, from sun up to sun down for the camp. Did that mean nothing? Of course it did. She broke the heart of Zeus’s starchild, pissed off and was nearly killed by the other one. Not to mention how much Hades hated her as well. She had a running tally of Gods that disliked her. Why in the hell did she think that she’d be allowed to lead?

It’s fine. She clenched her jaw, entering the office and slamming the door behind her. She didn’t want to lead anyway. Andy tossed the note in the trash, then sat down in front of the P.A. system. Now it’s someone else’s headache. She scooted the chair in and cleared her throat. "Good morning, campers. It is currently 9 a.m., on December 31st, New Year’s Eve." She tried her best to sound like her normal semi-chipper self, but the annoyance in her voice was hard to hide. "It’s currently 15 degrees fahrenheit, -9.4 degrees celsius, and snowing. So be sure to wear your boots and winter coats when you leave your cabins today."

Andy paused for a moment. Her announcements were usually brief and she would have signed off there, but she knew she had to share the note… Even if it stirred up confusion. "There was a note left at the main office for me to find… from the Gods. Exciting news, new demigods are expected to join us today." She sighed, tapping her fingers softly on the table. "The note also mentioned a new leader and, quote, a rigorous training regimen. So, today will be the last day of these daily announcements… at least from me."

She nearly ended the announcements there but forgot the most exciting part. Fuck the Gods. They don’t get to take that from her, at least. "And last, but not least, tonight at sundown on the Activities Field we will be having a New Year’s Eve celebration. So I’ll be seeing you, and the new campers there."

^{interactions ....|.... none ............... mentions ....|.... mason ............... collabs ....|.... none}

---

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^{#86a8ad ....|..... outfit .....|..... camp entrance > beach ....................................... #0054a6 ....|..... outfit .....|..... camp entrance > beach}

River knew that camp was secluded. He did, however, underestimate how secluded it actually was. He wasn’t keeping track, but he and Ocean had trekked at least 3 miles into the woods. Somewhere around the first mile, he took his sister’s bag for her. She couldn’t mind her step and deal with her bag, all while the snow was only getting deeper.

Ocean trudged behind her brother through the snow, silently listening to his complaints. It was times like this, but she was grateful for being a demigod—not only that, but a daughter of Poseidon. The snow was cold against her shoes and pants, but she was able to keep dry by using her hydrokinesis. "I can carry my bag now," She spoke up halfway through the trek. Her brother had taken it from her earlier despite her protests and while she was grateful for the help, it’s not like it’s heavy. River ignored her and Ocean rolled her eyes, readjusting the trident that sat holstered on her back. While the trident was heavy, the training from her father proved useful in giving her the strength to carry it long distances. Not much longer into the hike, River started slowing down and Ocean came to stand beside him. A giant wall and gate loomed above them—Ocean frowned.

They had to have been hiking for at least an hour by the time they saw the gates to camp. He didn’t know what he expected, but the giant walls and iron gate looked more like a military school than a summer camp for demigods… Even if it was winter. A prison to keep demigods in and strangers out.

"Well this looks inviting," he grumbled, setting down their bags.

"Can you blame them?" Ocean retorted.

"Wait here," he told her before heading toward the gate. Ocean crossed her arms and watched as River approached. He didn’t have the slightest clue how to get them inside. It wasn’t like their father gave them a gate code or a key. Maybe there was a doorbell? He had no clue.

On the gate was a small metal box, where you’d think a keypad would be, but there was just a small black square angled slightly upwards. Above it, etched into the box read biometric scanner. River’s brows pulled together in confusion. His father never asked for their fingerprints. He doubted it’d work, but he placed his thumb on the small box anyway. "There’s no way—"

Click. With a cold, creaky groan, the gates began to open, swinging in toward the camp.

River stood there for a second in slight disbelief, before returning to Ocean and grabbing their bags. "I guess they have our fingerprints." He nodded his head toward the entrance, signaling for Ocean to follow after him.

"That’s not creepy at all," She muttered, concerned. How did a God acquire fingerprints in the first place? While it made Ocean paranoid, (who else has her fingerprints?) It was kinda funny to imagine a God dusting for fingerprints. They walked past the gate and into the camp. A building sat just a little further down and if she looked past that, she could see cabins and a big field in the distance. It looked sparse and Ocean wasn’t as impressed as she hoped she’d be.

It wasn’t long after Andy finished her announcements that a light blinked on the control panel in front of her, signaling the main gate was opened. She quickly got up, conjuring a blade in her hand, and hurried toward the entrance, nearly forgetting to close the office door behind her. She made it to the trail in time to see the gates closing behind a young man and woman, both similar in complexion and hair color, bags in hand.

She took a couple steps toward them. "Who sent you?" Andy asked, motioning her blade at them.

Ocean’s hand reached for her trident, but River immediately stepped in front of Ocean, using his body as a barricade between that woman’s blade and his sister. "Our father, Poseidon,", his snipped in response.

Ocean lowered her hand and stepped around River to make eye contact with the woman. "We were able to get in the front door. Wouldn’t you think that means we’re the ‘good guys’? There’s no need to fight." She gave her brother a pointed glance, her eyes telling him to behave.

For a fleeting moment, Andy’s face scrunched in disgust at the mention of the sea God’s name, before she replaced it with a welcoming smile. "Sorry about that." She dropped her hand wielding the blade and before it reached her side, the weapon disappeared. "I wasn’t aware more demigods were coming until like… 2 seconds ago." She closed the distance between them and offered her right hand to the intimidating man. "Welcome to Camp Athens."

Her brief shift in demeanor at the mention of Poseidon didn’t slip past River. He had half a mind to question her, but after the hike he just made, he had no desire to waste time on someone who harbored disdain for his father or threatened him. He looked down his nose at the woman, and her offered hand, with a sharp gaze and clenched jaw. But he didn’t take it.

Andy kept her hand held out awkwardly for a few more seconds. "Ok then," she said, before sidestepping around him to address his far more approachable, presumably, sister. She offered her hand to the girl with a smile. "I’m Andromeda Bolton, daughter of Hecate. But you can call me Andy, most people do."

Ocean gave Andy a dimpled smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Her father’s words to not trust anyone, and to keep them at a distance rang in her ears. She took Andy’s outstretched hand, shaking it with her own. "I’m Ocean Sullivan and this is my brother, River. And before you say anything, yes, our mother was super original when it came to naming us," she said, slightly sarcastic.

"Aren’t they always?" Andy jested with a soft chuckle. "I’m named after a galaxy… or a Princess, maybe both? I have no idea."

River, having had enough of the pleasantries and idle chit chat, waved his hand to shoo off any further conversation. "Who’s in charge? I need to speak with them."

An annoyed laugh escaped Andy’s lips as she crossed her arms over her chest, shifting her attention back to the buzzkill brother. "I am."

He scoffed. "You? How can you lead and guard the entrance? How do you manage to keep in order in there, when you’re all the way out here, with your little blade," he added with a sardonic tone, nodding his head to her now empty hand.

"No one guards the entrance. I was just nearby—how unruly do you think camp is that ’order must be kept?’" She retorted with air quotes.

"You went through all this effort to fortify camp, but don’t have a guard rotation? And enough that my father had to come down here to teach all of you a lesson." River mocked with a judgemental, condescending smirk.

"2 people fighting does not speak to the integrity of the camp as a whole." She shook her head, waving off the current debate to circle back to the original topic. "3 people died, and everyone was injured, some gravely… And the wall wasn’t finished until last week. Even with everyone combat ready, there aren’t enough people here to keep a perimeter."

"Camp safety is more important. A true warrior would do what was necessary… even injured."

Andy laughed, but not in good humor. It was a frustrated and annoyed chuckle, like someone who was a second from blowing their top. "What’s the worst injury you’ve ever sustained?"

River straightened up slightly as he felt the conversation starting to turn against him. "A broken wrist."

"Right. Right," Andy tapped her chin and started pacing, making a show of her pretending to connect the dots. "And how many consecutive monsters did you fight while you had this broken arm?"

"None."

"Exactly," Andy said as she took a step toward him. "So you can take that sanctimonious bullshit, and shove it up your ass."

Ocean watched back and forth, anxiety and irritation forming a pit in her stomach. She wanted to give Andy the benefit of the doubt, but River was getting more worked up. While there were some things he needed to learn, that didn’t give Andy the right to make him feel inferior, though Ocean didn’t think anyone could make him feel inferior. Still, that was her brother Andy was insulting, and she didn’t like it. "Not cool, Andy—he’s just trying to help. And River, we’re barely 100 feet in camp and you’re already fighting someone. It’s been a long day and we’ve been walking for hours. Let’s just get settled in and figure this out when we’re in a better mood." Ocean was usually pretty good at diffusing anything River related, though, when he got really worked up, there was rarely anything she could do. She just hoped Andy would drop the argument, because if she didn’t, they’d be here all night, and then she’d get mad as well.

"Being condescending and talking to me like I’m an idiot is not helpful," Andy rebutted, gesturing to River.

Not one to accept being one-up-ed in a conversation, nor was he prone to shutting up after his sister tried to diffuse a situation, River quickly thought of a retort to try and regain control. "If you don’t assign guard duty, don’t keep order, don’t organize training, what do you do? The morning announcements? It’s no wonder my father sent me here. It’s very obvious you are lacking the proper leadership."

"Of course it’s you," she whispered to herself, shaking her head. "We’ve been lacking a proper leader for much longer than me."

Andy was over that conversation and his attitude. She turned to face Ocean and conjured a map in her hand much like a magician would a card. "Here’s a camp map. All the available cabins are marked. It’s enchanted, so once you choose the one you want it’ll update. If you need anything, here’s my cabin," she pointed to her own cabin in the Northeast of camp with an apologetic smile. "It was nice meeting you, Ocean."

Ocean blinked at the magical appearing map in her hands, giving Andy a nod. While she wasn’t super new to the whole Greek gods existing and everything, she wasn’t used to seeing other demigods and their powers. Magic seemed pretty cool.

As she turned away to leave, River called after her. "You can have the rest of the day to clean out the leader’s cabin. I’m sure your friends will help you find a new one."

Ocean glared at her brother when he called out to Andy. Why couldn’t he just leave it alone until tomorrow? Gods, Poseidon was a bad influence on him.

Andy pivoted on her heels to turn and face him, continuing to walk backwards. "You might be daddy’s favorite, but leaders don’t get special treatment. You’ll have to settle for a regular cabin… just like everyone else." She gave an exaggerated shrug of fake sympathy. "Oh, Ocean, there’s a New Year’s party tonight on the activities field. You should come." Her gaze drifted over to River. "Unfortunately, it’s an open invitation. So, I guess you’re invited too. But maybe leave the party pooper attitude at home."

"A party? We should be training… Not partying. As the new leader—"

"Not today you’re not," she interrupted. Andy then spun back around and gave them both a wave before disappearing into camp.

It wasn’t often that someone went toe to toe with River. He stood there with a clenched jaw and flared nostrils, frustrated. He should have known better than to expect everyone to fall in line without any resistance. His father warned him about how unruly they all were, but he had hoped to avoid having to crack down so hard the second he got there.

Ocean looked up at River and frowned at his tense frame. She sighed with an irritated shake of her head. "You’re both ridiculous. It’s a good thing dad has us leading together. You start the fires and I put them out." she said that, but she’s been known for starting many of her own fires as well. "I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a party. It seems to be planned already so why cancel it?" Ocean watched the field and the few specks of people that started to wander about. A cold wind blew past and she shivered. "Besides. This place looks like it could use some cheer. It’s so depressing." Ocean moved to stand in front of her brother and tried to grab her bag from him. "Tomorrow, River. Let them have fun tonight and then tomorrow you can be the drill sergeant you’ve been dreaming of becoming," She teased, giving him a real smile.

River huffed through his nose as he handed over his sister’s bag. "She’s going to be a problem, and you know it." He wasn’t a fan of people challenging or questioning his stand. After all, Poseidon sent him to lead, not Andy. She was just a placeholder until someone new came. In the end, if he needed to put her in her place… He would. He sighed and glanced over at the map. "I guess I’ll look for a cabin around here somewhere." He pointed at the map near the ocean, it only seemed fitting after all. "We can look together if you want."

Ocean nodded, slightly nervous over the prospect of being somewhere new. She never had opportunities to fit in anywhere except within her family. She had a more difficult time controlling her powers than River did, so she tended to cause accidents wherever she went. It made it hard to make friends, so she never did. Ocean pinched her thigh as a way to ground herself—a habit she’d picked up since she got removed from public school for accidentally blowing up the pipes. She was 22 years old now, had almost perfect control over her powers, and after having a discussion with Poseidon, realized that she didn’t really need friends to be someone that can make him proud.

She brushed off the nerves and responded to River, pointing at another cabin that was on the beach. "I’d like that. I’m thinking more of a cabin on the beach so I can be close to the water. It’s weird not being on Hawai’i."

"You know it’ll be colder closer to the water?" River asked more rhetorically than anything. They were both more accustomed to warmer climates. It wouldn’t be winter forever, but December was just the beginning. It’d be a couple months of this easily before they could enjoy shorts and surf.

They walked further down into camp and past a dozen cabins before coming across a cabin that was situated fairly close to the ocean. "It looks like a nice location. I’m sure you’ll love it."

River turned his attention toward said cabin. It wasn’t big or anything, which he wasn’t complaining about. He was surprised to see a small in-ground pool off the front porch. Even more surprising was that it appeared to be heated. At the right angle he could see a little bit of steam and snowflakes melted when they hit the water’s surface. He shrugged his shoulders, "I wouldn’t say no to a heated pool." He dipped inside to drop off his bags and get a quick glimpse around. River wasn’t very knowledgeable about interior design but it looked nice. He would have loved to stay inside in the heat for the rest of the day, but there was no way he’d be able to pull that off.

River closed the door behind him and returned back to Ocean. They continued their walk searching for the right cabin for her. River’s was just on the edge of the beach and while there were a few other run-down looking cabins, there was one right in the center with perfect access to the water. "I think I’ll take this one," Ocean stared out at the dark sea that crashed onto shore. She knew that the water would be freezing cold, but that usually didn’t bother her. She’d have a good view from her cabin, that’s all that mattered.

He took a moment to appreciate the view then headed up onto her porch and inside the cabin. No, Ocean didn’t ask River to check out her cabin for her but they knew about this place or the people there. And as their father warned them not to trust anyone, he wanted to make sure his sister’s new home was safe. He doubted someone would be lying in wait under the bed or in the closet, but that didn’t stop him from checking.

After a thorough once over, he came back out and flashed a brief thumbs-up. "All clear." River hopped off the porch and returned back to Ocean. "I’ll let you get settled. I’ll probably just wander around and get my bearings." He gave her a quick kiss on the top of the head then continued in the direction they were heading further down the beach.

^{interactions ....|.... andy ............... mentions ....|.... none ............... collabs ....|.... @Palindrome}

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^{#c7b29b ....|..... outfit .....|..... activities field .....|..... rocco}

Sloane was up long before the sun. Sleep often evaded her now that she was truly alone. It took several nights for both herself and Rocco to get used to the change. The poor pup spent most of those early nights crying by the door, waiting for Liam to come back… and nothing. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t also lay in bed, crying, waiting for the exact same thing. The note he left behind gave no closure or explanation.

I’m sorry. Please look after Rocco.

Liam

She always thought of herself as a strong person, able to withstand her mother, the hell Sylas put her through, and even Lochlan. There was always a reason, explanation, or something for her to direct her anger at, but this only left her confused, grasping at air with no answers. Sloane didn’t know what she did or what happened. How could he leave without saying goodbye? How could he leave behind Rocco? Why? But all she had was a sad excuse for a note that she clung to every night like maybe that scrap of paper would bring him back. It didn’t.

Honestly, she didn’t know if she would have been able to handle it if it wasn’t for Rocco. The poor dog just wanted to love and be loved. He was just as confused as she was. They were both abandoned and used each other to try and find a new type of happiness. It wasn’t the same. Bittersweet, but together, Sloane and Rocco made their own little family. It didn’t stop the tears at night, but it gave her enough strength to burn the note and try to move on.

3 months was a long time. With all the injuries Sloane sustained, she didn’t have much of a choice but to sit alone with her thoughts and come to terms with everything that happened. She was lucky she remembered the box and was able to close it before anything worse happened. But that didn’t stop the survivor’s guilt. She blamed herself for every injury and every death because it was her mother that sent her the box. She left the box for her brother. And it was her brother that opened it.

The combination of guilt and abandonment sent her spiraling into a deep depression. She thinks Andy might have noticed the signs, from her own struggles. She always lingered whenever she brought Sloane food. She never said anything, but she was always there if Sloane ever wanted to talk. It was a small gesture that made her feel a little less alone. And eventually, as her body healed, she was able to start picking up all her broken pieces. She wasn’t fixed, nowhere close, but it was a start.

Like most mornings, Rocco slept like a baby, passed out on the other side of the bed and snoring while Sloane read. She missed sleep, but she didn’t hate her peaceful quiet—aside from Rocco—mornings. The morning announcements startled him awake. He jumped up and barked once or twice, before hurrying over to Sloane with a wagging tail. He flopped down in her lap, wiggling on his back for belly rubs as she listened to Andy.

The beginning of the announcements was nothing out of the ordinary, the date and the weather. But when she was ready for it to end, Andy took a long pause and kept going. "There was a note left at the main office for me to find… from the Gods. Exciting news, new demigods are expected to join us today. The note also mentioned a new leader and, quote, a rigorous training regimen." She groaned at the thought of training. She had liked having a couple months without getting her butt kicked every other day. Sloane was happy locked away in her cabin away from the rest of camp… And her brother. But, unfortunately, it looked like those days were over.

"So, today will be the last day of these daily announcements… at least from me. And last, but not least, tonight at sundown on the Activities Field we will be having a New Year’s Eve celebration. So I’ll be seeing you, and the new campers there." In typical camp fashion, there was a party. But given the recent circumstances, this was one of the few times Sloane actually thought a night of fun and frivolity was in order, even if it was likely she’d only show up for the food and leave. Food was fun. Rocco liked food.

After his mandatory morning belly rubs, Rocco leapt off the bed and ran to the door when he noticed the snow. He barked and jumped around trying to bite at the flakes through the window, covering the glass in drool and nose prints. Sloane laughed as she climbed out of bed, bringing the blanket with her and wrapping it around her shoulders. She crouched down next to the puppy and looked out the window. "Is it snowing?" she asked, patting his side. "Do you want to go play in it?"

Rocco started jumping around even more, barking in excitement. "Ok. Ok. Let me get dressed." In hindsight, she probably should have asked him about going outside after she was dressed, because the entire time she tried doing anything he was right under foot, running in circles and knocking everything over with his tail. It ended up taking twice as long for her to get changed and ready to go outside with Rocco always up in her business. But it was cute, so he got a pass.

Sloane didn’t even have her coat on all the way when she finally opened the cabin door and let the dog free. Rocco sprinted up and down a small stretch of the path leading to the cabin, barking and trying to catch snowflakes. She grabbed his leash before closing the door behind her. She rarely needed it because with a couple months down time, there wasn’t much to do besides train him, and he minded really well. But if the announcements were correct about new campers, she didn’t have a clue what they’d be like… or more accurately, how well he’d behave around a bunch of new people. Just a bit of precaution.

Bundled up and as warm as she could possibly be, she whistled for Rocco. He immediately came running back and sat excitedly at her feet. "Are you ready?" He barked. His wagging tail threw snow around and smacked her ankles. "Ok. On your marks." Sloane bent her knees slightly and the dog shifted to his feet. "Get set." She stood like she was about to run while he lowered his torso like a predator about to pounce. "Go!"

And they were off, or Rocco was. Sloane still had a slight limp, her leg had healed, with some scarring, but she hadn’t been able to do much in the realm of physical therapy to rebuild her dexterity and strength. She was one of the least athletic people at camp, but the running was good for her and her recovery. It didn’t take long for Rocco to be long out of sight, but he knew where to go and she trusted him. She tried her best to keep up, but by the time she rounded the stables, she was out of breath and her leg was screaming.

Off in the middle of the field, she could see Rocco impatiently awaiting her, his head down, butt up and tail wagging vigorously. Sloane leaned down, scooping up snow in both of her hands. She walked in his direction molding the white fluff into a ball, then threw it at him. It was a bad throw, terrible honestly. It didn’t even make it half the way to Rocco, but he was ready. He sprinted towards the ball and crushed it in his mouth just before it would have hit the ground. Confused, he buried his head in the snow and sniffed in circles, trying to understand what happened to the ball.

Sloane got another snowball ready and was about to throw it when she caught a glimpse of Andy heading to the Main Hall and two new demigods wandering up the path from the entrance. So it begins. She wondered if one of them was their new leader. And how many demigods were coming? Camp had been so quiet for so long it was weird to think of a bunch of new people wandering around. She kind of liked the ghost town aura, it suited introverts like herself. Either way, she was the farthest person from a welcome party. There was no way she was going to be running around trying to introduce herself to everyone. She was fine with being the weird quiet girl again.

She patted the frozen ball some more and looked down at Rocco who had started eating the snow as he waited for her to play with him. "Ok. Ok. Sorry," she laughed. "Ready?" Once he was ready, she threw the snowball as far away as she could. Although she was hungry, she was happy to play with him for a bit. At least until she could no longer feel her fingers.

^{interactions ....|.... none ............... mentions ....|.... lochlan & sylas ............... collabs ....|.... none}

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^{#0a6d6b ....|..... outfit .....|..... outside main hall}

Camp had been eerily quiet for the past couple months. Most campers kept to their cabins, healing or grieving, or whatever it was they did. Sylas was usually someone who could find some way to entertain himself, usually at the expense of others, but with everyone shut away and nursing his own injuries, he found himself immensely bored. And with his palms sliced open, there wasn’t all that much he could do to self entertain either. Most of his days were spent listening to music or staring out the window.

There were a few times where Evelyn checked in on him and vice versa. But everything about whatever they had was… different. She could have stayed at his cabin if she wanted, but he never offered. He had a feeling it was the same for her place. There was no real label or term for whatever they shared, but in the end they had no obligation to each other. Even though he enjoyed seeing her and her company, he was still pissed that she didn’t listen to him during the Pandora’s box incident, which ended up getting her hurt. It was a new feeling for him, the possibility of not being trusted by someone he wanted to trust him. He wasn’t a fan of how that affected him.

Evelyn’s hold on Sylas left him very confused and conflicted on a regular basis. He never was one to bother himself with the opinions and feelings of others before her. Now everytime he did anything, he found himself wondering how she would react… If she would hate him. Oh, she had every right to and she should. But just the thought of that made his stomach twist in an unsettling knot. Romance was for the weak and he was allowing himself to be blinded by it. He was becoming sloppy.

For 3 months camp has been free of the pestilence that was Liam O’Connor, yet what had Sylas done about it? Nothing. Well, nothing beyond giving him the helpful nudge he needed to leave. That man was the hulk with a single brain cell and a wall between himself and his sister. Sloane was now alone, heartbroken and unprotected. A perfect target. But even if he managed to get anywhere near her cabin, she’d be waiting for him. He got caught once before and nearly ruined everything. Not only that, but she now knew she was powerful enough to control him. That was dangerous. He had to be more subtle and work behind the scenes like a puppet master. But he was patient… He could wait.

Sylas stood in front of his living room and sipped his coffee, while his mind kept toiling over all the machinations he had in store once everyone stopped hiding away in their damn cabins. He no longer had Liv to help with any of his dark dealings, so his only hope was Mason. Which last time he checked was so far up Andy’s ass, he might be a lost cause. He sighed. People at this camp were so unreliable… with their morals. Pathetic.

He heard the announcements go off and fully intended on ignoring them like he always did. The fuck did he care about the weather? But the mention of a note piqued his interest. "...New campers…" Blah, blah, blah. "...a new leader and, quote, a rigorous training regimen." And something about another camp party, no surprise there. He was more interested in the new leader and new campers. Nick and Ajax were both useless in the leader category and whatever Andy was doing wasn’t much better. Plus she was complicated territory, if he was caught messing with her then he’d have to deal with whatever Mason fallout followed. But new blood meant new possibilities.

Cabin time was over. He exhaled deeply then downed the rest of his coffee. While passing through his kitchen, Sylas set his mug in the sink then made his way up to his room. It had been awhile since anyone new came to camp so a decent first impression was definitely the goal. He fingered through his clothing until he found something that was charming enough, yet also warm. He sprayed himself with some cologne and headed out the door.

He didn’t love the idea of mingling in a damn snow storm, but he couldn’t avoid the frigid weather forever. Sylas still wasn’t prepared for the wind’s bite when he stepped outside. He turned his collar up to try and block some of the chill, then shoved his hands in pockets. While normally he would enjoy a more leisurely stroll, he wasn’t particularly in the mood to waste time out in that weather. As he passed the armory, he caught a glimpse of Sloane playing in the snow with Liam’s little pet out in the field. His pace slowed as he watched her. How could she seem so… happy? Sylas couldn’t fathom how someone like her could almost die, be the catalyst of a camp-wide massacre, be abandoned by a love, and still smile? When Lochlan cheated on her, she locked herself in her room for half a year and became catatonic. Yet there she was.

In that moment, Sloane froze like she could feel eyes on her, and before he looked away her gaze found his. Sylas’s eyes didn’t waiver as a small, enigmatic smile crossed his lips. He stayed there as long as she kept his gaze, only moving on once she got uncomfortable and looked away. Even now, he still had some sway over her… good. Perhaps leaving his cabin was a good idea. He chuckled to himself and continued toward the Main Hall. It was going to be a very interesting day indeed.

^{interactions ....|.... none ............... mentions ....|.... sloane & evelyn ............... collabs ....|.... none}

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^{#c9bef3 ....|..... outfit .....|..... lochlan's cabin}

"Good morning, campers. It is currently 9 a.m., on December 31st, New Year’s Eve." Blair groaned, burying her head under her pillow, desperate to drown out the obnoxious and very unnecessary announcements. Couldn’t they wait until noon like a sane person? Who in their right mind wanted to be up that early. "It’s currently 15 degrees fahrenheit, -9.4 degrees celsius, and snowing. So be sure to wear your boots and winter coats when you leave your cabins today."

The pillow did little to nothing to block out the noise. She hoped they were over, but Andy’s voice just kept going. "There was a note left at the main office for me to find… from the Gods."

"Oh my Gods, who cares?" Blair sat up, ready to throw her pillow at whatever speaker the announcements were coming from… If she could find it. Turns out, she never really cared enough to look for it.

"Exciting news, new demigods are expected to join us today." Blair perked up, the announcements suddenly a lot more interesting than just the weather. "The note also mentioned a new leader and, quote, a rigorous training regimen. So, today will be the last day of these daily announcements… at least from me. And last, but not least, tonight at sundown on the Activities Field we will be having a New Year’s Eve celebration. So I’ll be seeing you, and the new campers there."

"Thank the Gods, boys and a party!"

However tired she was a minute ago was completely gone. She jumped out of bed with an excited vigor and ran to the bathroom. Blair undressed so fast she nearly tripped on her underwear on her way into the shower. It was excessive the amount of time she spent in there making sure to clean, scrub, and shave every inch of her body. It had been months since a guy laid hands on her, the last time being Nick. May he rest in peace. But a girl’s got needs, and she was in desperate need of being thoroughly ravished.

Squeaky clean, she spent twice as long in front of the mirror drying and curling her hair, then put on a full face of makeup. While Blair, obviously, had to look her best at the prospect of new available men to warm her bed, she was disappointed at how cold it was outside. That really limited her wardrobe options, and all her best outfits were definitely for the warmer seasons. She didn’t have a whole bunch in the slutty winter category, but she’d just have to make do. It took sometime, but eventually she managed to put something together that was… good enough.

Dressed to impress, ready to break hearts… and beds, Blair hurried outside and bee-lined for her brother’s cabin next door. She banged on the door, obnoxiously loud. "Lochlan! Open up! It’s fucking cold out here," she shouted from his porch, no doubt pissing everyone off in nearby cabins. She banged again. "Come on," she muttered to herself, bouncing up and down to keep warm.

When he didn’t answer after a couple minutes, Blair’s patience had run its course. "Fuck this," she cursed under her breath. She willed herself intangible and walked straight through his front door like it wasn’t there. "Lochlan!" She called to him, stomping her way up the stairs and into his bedroom.

"Are you deaf?" Blair chastised him as she walked around the room, opening all the curtains to let in light. "Didn’t you hear the announcements?" she asked, not bothering to look at him. She was on a mission. Like a slutty busy bee, she went straight for his closet and started rifling through his clothes. She scoffed or grimaced at every other piece of clothing, shoving it aside and moving onto the next piece. "No. No. No." The screech of hangers dragged across the clothing rod filled the silence of his room. "Gods, did you bring nothing I bought you?"

Blair pursed her lips in thoughts. She sucked in air making annoying high-pitched squeaks. "This will have to do." She grabbed a couple pieces of clothing and tossed them onto his bed, whether or not he was still lying there was irrelevant. "Look, it’s about time you got over Sloane and stopped pining after her. There’s a bunch of fresh faced demigods coming to camp for you to fuck… or fuck with, I don’t care. But I’m getting you out of this cabin." She stopped to look in his mirror and used her ring finger to touch up the lipstick at the corner of her mouth. "So, please get dressed so we can go judge the newbies and decide who’s lives to ruin, ok?" She spun around to face him, giving him her usual mischievous smile. "I’ll be downstairs." With that, she disappeared back down to his living room.

^{interactions ....|.... lochlan ............... mentions ....|.... sloane ............... collabs ....|.... none}

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^{#667c0c ....|..... naked .....|..... trinity's cabin .............................................................. #66356a ....|..... naked .....|..... her cabin}

"Good morning, campers. It is currently 9 a.m., on December 31st, New Year’s Eve." Andy’s voice echoed throughout the camp as their daily wake up call roused Wes from his deep sleep. He grumbled and groaned, stretching out his morning stiffness and grogginess. "It’s currently 15 degrees fahrenheit, -9.4 degrees celsius, and snowing. So be sure to wear your boots and winter coats when you leave your cabins today."

Wes had been stuck under Trinity’s watchful… and forceful house arrest over the past 3 months. It was cute watching her worry over him. Blair did a decent enough job cauterizing his wound, that he didn’t really need anything else beside rest. But Trin’s nursing practices went a little harder than bed rest. It was more, don’t leave the bed unless you need to pee or shower, and even then she insisted on helping. It was a month before she let him actually move around her cabin without getting yelled at. He still wasn’t allowed out of her sight, and definitely not outside.

The one positive was if he was stuck in bed, he could usually force her to stay in bed with him. After all, it was important he remained active… to keep his muscle tone. At least, that was the way he painted it to her, and Trinity had gotten pretty bad at telling him no. He was sure the cabin probably smelled like months of sex, and was in desperate need of airing out. But they hardly noticed. Who in their right mind would complain about that?

His hand searched for her under the covers. When Wes found her, his arm hooked around her bare waist and pulled her close. Her body molded to the curve of his with her back pressed against his chest. "Mmm... Good morning, beautiful," he mumbled against her shoulder before giving the back of her neck a tender kiss.

Trinity awoke to Andy’s announcement but didn’t move a muscle. Especially hearing what conditions and cold awaited them outside. Her hostage spree worked well as she benefited from his company, bedroom talents, and warmth.

When Wes pulled her closer and did his affectionate toaster duties she smiled. "Morning."

"There was a note left at the main office for me to find… from the Gods. Exciting news, new demigods are expected to join us today. The note also mentioned a new leader and, quote, a rigorous training regimen. So, today will be the last day of these daily announcements… at least from me." Wes’s brows furrowed at the news, but he remained quiet, his face nuzzled in the crook of Trinity’s neck as he waited for the announcements to end. "And last, but not least, tonight at sundown on the Activities Field we will be having a New Year’s Eve celebration. So I’ll be seeing you, and the new campers there."

"Guess that means Ajax and Alex are gone for good." He rested his chin on Trinity’s shoulder. They both had fucked up… a lot, before they left camp. But it wasn’t fair to those they wronged that they were just whisked away to Olympus to avoid the repercussions of their actions. It was hard remembering how he was ever friends with Alex, knowing all the stuff she has done. She shouldn’t have gotten off so easily for the things she did. He missed having friends, and while Alex was his best friend, he didn’t miss it or her… as messed up as it was to admit. All she did was cause problems, and Wes wanted nothing more than to just enjoy his life with Trinity and avoid any of the camp drama bullshit.

Trinity propped up on an arm, frown still in place before glancing back at him. "Did you know that self-proclaimed and God-elected leaders of camp wind up missing or dead?" Granted, Ajax wasn’t really missing as much as hightailed it to Olympus, sister in tow. Nick met his demise and Andy kind of naturally evolved into the reins and it worked. It finally seemed comfortable and to work. Now the Gods were messing with the system again.

"Hmm…" Wes mused to himself, a bit lost in the thought of what it all would mean.

She sighed out before turning to face Wes. She forgot that sometimes Alex was his friend, as much as she would have liked to have broken a few of the daughter of Zeus’ bones. "You okay with them being gone for good?" She stroked his cheek. Sure, she didn’t give a rat's ass but Wes brought out the content and compassion in her. Curse him

Wes leaned his head into her touch and shrugged his shoulder. "I don’t know. I mean, were the Valises ever really good friends to anyone? Look at Andy and how indifferent Ajax was to her." He sighed softly. "Alex did a lot of fucked up shit that I don’t think even I could look past. You can’t apologize away almost killing someone."

Then something pinged in her. Rigorous training as it was referred to excited her but Wesley… her hand reached under the covers rubbing up and down his leg until it slid to his inner thigh. While it seemed she might have been after his goods, and may have grazed them, she was actually looking for aha! She located his scar and pressed her thumb down on the scarred femoral artery checking if it was tender. "Are you and your most recent battle wound up for an intense training regimen?" Because he knew she’d put a halt to that shit if he wasn’t ready. But maybe he had to be. Depending on what power deemed it so.

Wes raised a brow at her wandering hand and for a second he got his hopes up until she found his scar. When she pressed her finger against it he faked a wince, just to get a rise out of her. He laughed, grabbing her hand and kissing her palm before she could smack him out of annoyance. "It doesn’t hurt." He freed his leg from the blanket, bending his knee to get a better look at it. "It’s just ugly. Not as bad as losing an arm though," he teased with a playful smile.

She narrowed her eyes and mocked a growl. Eventually she forfeited the bed and put on the winter layers to brace for the cold. She forgot how tampering Gods could be sometimes. "So," she began forcing her way through some boots, "New batch of campers, new ‘leader’, new training schedule and we’ve been in holiday recovery mode. So…" Trinity hoped Wes would pick up her exact train of thought and suggest pre-training for the day until the gathering. They needed to look, and be sharp and fierce so no bastards tried anything.

However, she supposed she wasn’t totally against his own suggestions.

Wes sighed when she climbed out of bed. He rolled onto his back with a dramatic groan. The last thing on the planet he wanted to do was train. It was no secret he was a shit fighter. He’s won fights by sheer dumb luck and nothing more. He was lucky he survived at all. "So, you wanna train for this ’new leader’ who is probably a d-bag?" He asked, looking up at the ceiling.

Trinity opened her mouth to oppose his theory as the second boot battle began but he got in first.

"Or," he teased, shifting to his knees, bare ass out. He grabbed Trinity’s wrist and pulled her backwards onto the bed before she got her second boot on. Wes smiled down at her with a playful grin and brushed her golden hair behind her ear. "We could stay inside and keep each other warm," he whispered like it was a secret. "Sounds like a much more enjoyable rigorous activity."

Trinity laughed and had to smirk up at him. "You think just because you’re a little sex God and all so charming you can get out of anything, don’t you?" She teased back. "Although it is some great fine print you’ve found." She cupped his jaw and guided him in for a kiss where their lips met. "But no.” She booped his nose with a grin and left the bed for the second time.

He groaned when she pulled away, parting their lips and leaving him half puckered up in the bed. "Sex God?" he mused to himself with a proud smile. "Can I get that in writing? Maybe a plaque?"

"I want us to train," Trinity began her famous lecturing while retrieving that second boot once again.

Wes shifted so that he was sitting at the foot of the bed. "Mhmm," he acknowledged her as he hooked his index finger in the belt loop of her pants. With a little tug, he guided her back to him so she stood between his knees. His hand slowly ran along her backside, curved around her thigh, then slowly worked its way down. He grabbed that damned second boot, pulled it off and tossed it across the room.

"Because then we can flex our powers..." Trinity tried to resume the lecture, but he was also very distracting.

Wes spun her around to face him and pulled her close enough that her waist was right at eye height. Convenient. He held her gaze intently while his fingers worked untying the other boot. After getting her foot free, he threw the shoe aside, not paying it any mind. The corners of his mouth tugged into a mischievous grin. He leaned in and grabbed the button of her pants between her teeth. With one small jerk of his head they were unfastened.

"And umm…" whatever she was saying, she was losing sense of quickly. Her words became mumbled nonsense until they evolved into a happy little hum.

"Flexing our power is very important," he agreed, never looking away or breaking her gaze. Meanwhile, his hand inched the clothes right back down her legs. "But, first impressions are important, don’t you think?" Wes slowly stood up, allowing his lips to briefly brush against hers as they passed. "And when was the last time we showered?"

She tried very hard to keep her iron focus but it was faltering, faltering like her steady heart beat. "I… " she answered quietly without much thought. He could ask her what day it was at the moment and she wouldn’t know. All she knew was his touch excited her and he undid her pants with his teeth!

The tip of his thumb ran along the bottom of her shirt while his hand rested on her hip. "But, if you’d rather train…" he teased, grinning down at her with his charming little smile.

Trinity glared at him. If he wasn’t already naked, she’d rip his clothes off in a second. "We’re not training." She all but lunged on him.

When he wasn’t met with any objections, Wes grabbed a hold of the hem of her shirt. He waited for her to raise her arms, then pulled it over her head. He subtly stepped his left foot on her pants that rested around her ankles, then when he picked her up her feet easily slipped free. His arm hooked under her bottom to support her weight as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

Even without his bionic arm, Wes managed to carry her to the bathroom with ease while being littered with kisses and nibbles. He lacked some of the finesse a second hand would give him, but still managed to get them both in the shower. He pressed Trinity’s back against the cool tile. "Mind getting the water?" he purred in her ear, then started trailing kisses along her jaw.

Trinity tilted her head for him and reached around blindly for the taps to start the cascade of water.

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Mjolnir's Tester

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Mjolnir's Tester

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Camp Athens

@Ezekiel thanks for your interest. Looking forward to seeing what you think up.

Camp Athens

@Vanq sounds good. Send me a PM when you've picked a direction :)